Traction-wheel.



J. L. GIBBONS.

TRACTION WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6, 1914.

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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J. L. GIBBONS. TRACTION WHEEL. APPLICATION-FILED MAR. e, 1914.

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

JOHN L. GIBIBONS, 0F FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA.

TRACTION-WHEEL.

Application filed March 6, 1914.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J OHN L. GIBBoNs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Lauderdale, in the county of Dade and State of Florida, have invented new and useful Improvements in Traction-Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in traction wheels and particularly to a traction wheel wherein the ground gripping elements are automatically moved to and from an operative position in the revolution of the wheel, whereby when said elements are in inoperative position properly disposed scrapers may clean the ground engaging surface of the wheel.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of a ground gripping wheel wherein gripping elements are pivotally mounted with relation to and movable through the wheel rim, the elements being operatively connected with the hub and arranged to cooperate with manually adjustable means to cause said elements to project beyond the ground engaging surface of the rim during the gripping position of such surface.

The invention will be described in the following specification reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation illustrating the improved wheel. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the same. Fig. 3 is a broken perspective illustrating the operative movement of one of the ground gripping elements. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the adjusting member for controlling the movement of said elements.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawings, the improved traction wheel comprises a hub 1 and rim 2, the latter being of substantial width, as is usual in wheels of this type. Spokes 3 radiate from the hub to the rim to suitably connect these parts in the usual manner. The rim at appropriate points throughout its circumferential length is formed with transversely disposed slots l, and mounted for operative movement through the slots are the ground gripping elements 5. These elements are in the form of triangular-shaped blades pivotallv connected at their apex at 6 to suitable lugs formed on the inner surface of the wheel rim.

The hub 1 is provided with a series of ra- Specification of Letters Patent. i

Patented Jan. it, 11915.

Serial No. saaees.

diating pins 7, corresponding in number to and radially alined with the respective openings 4, and intermediate each ground gripping element and the radially alined projections 7 is arranged an operating rod 8 formed in two sections pivotally connected at their meeting ends, with one section pivotally connected at its free end to the hub projection 7 and the other section to that corner of the ground gripping element remote from the inner surface of the wheel rim when the element is in inoperative position. A rod 9 is pivotally connected to the relatively inner section of the rod 8, said rod 9 extending through an elongated opening 10 in an underlying spoke, the end of the rod being provided with a nut 11 to pre vent passage of the rod wholly through the opening in one direction. A spring 12 encircles the rod 9 bearing between the cooperating spoke and an enlargement on the rod adjacent to the connection of the latter with the rod 8.

The spring is normally tensioned to maintain the sections of the rod broken, that is, at their limit of pivotal movement permitted by the rod 9, under which circumstances the operative edge of the ground gripping element 5 will be held flush with the relatively outer surface of the rim 2.

Rotatably mounted upon the axle 13 of the wheel is sleeve 14 carrying through the medium of radially projecting arms 15 a track 16, the ends 17 of which are disposed at an angular relation to'the comparatively straight portion 18, the latter constituting the operating portion of the element and being arranged in such position that when rollers 19 rotatably supported upon the relatively inner sections of the rods 8 engage said portions 18, the rods will be operated so that the sections thereof are alined with the effectto project the ground gripping element into operative position beyond the surface of the wheel rim.

The sleeve 14- is operated through the medium of a lever 20 held in adjusted position through coiiperation of the usual dog and se ment locking means 21. By this arrangement the operative face 18 of the actuating element 16 may be positioned at any desired point so as to move the ground gripping elements into projected relation, and maintain them so projected during any particular cooperation with a desired wheel portion and the ground.

Beyond that operative portion of the wheel through which it is desired to project the ground gripping elements, i prefer to arrange scrapers 22 adapted to cooperate With the outer surface of the Wheel rim at all times and thereby clean said Wheel of any collected material incident to its travel over the ground surface.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new, is

A traction Wheel including a hub, spokes, and a rim connected therewith, groundgripping elements pivotaily connected to and operative through said rim, lugs carried by said hub, sectional rods having their extremities pivotally connected to said elements and lugs, rods pivotally connected to saidsectional rods and having their free extremities passing through the said spokes, springs encircling said rods between the spokes and sectional rods, grooved rollers carried by said sectlonal rods, and an actuating member comprising a sleeve, radial arms and an arcuate-shaped track, all formed integral, the track being cylindrical in cross section for engagement with the grooves of said rollers.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN L. GIBBONS. Witnesses:

J. K. GonDoN, l/VlLLIAM W. JONES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Fatents,

Washington, D. C. 

